Those who have been to a few shows in Tacoma have heard the name Blanco Bronco thrown around. Whether they’ve seen them once with another band, are one of their favorites or have just seen the band’s name listed on any of the many bills coating streetlamp poles, one thing is certain: Blanco Bronco is a Tacoma band that gets around - and for good reason.

Blanco Bronco is comprised of John Leddington (also known as Heath Jergens) on drums, Aaron Wilson (aka Manjo Taliban) on guitar and vocals and Tyler Royster (Barry Tyler Moore) on vocals and bass. The band has been playing together for four years and Wilson and Royster had previously played together in Judo for the Blind. A few years later Wilson met Leddington and they formed soon after.

While they can’t exactly agree on one main genre for the band, (and maybe that’s for the best) or their overall sound, the band can all agree they are rock and roll through and through. Though they’ve got indie qualities that keep chaos and thrash integral at all times and a range of influences from David Bowie and ‘80s new wave, to Olympia bands from the early ‘90s - Blanco Bronco definitely retains a raw, organic sound that hasn’t been watered down or over-processed. What you see is what you get with Blanco Bronco and there really isn’t one way to describe them that’s more fitting than another.

“If we listen to our music we can recognize the influences that people are telling us they hear, but it doesn’t influence us,” Leddington said.

All the guys live on Hilltop and frequent all of its local businesses. Being true to their neighborhood and city, Blanco Bronco has played a majority of their shows within city limits and has only played a handful of shows in Olympia and Seattle. They’ve played most venues here but believe the Top of Tacoma bar to be their favorite place to play. The boys acknowledge they’ve given into apathy a bit when it comes to booking shows, but they feel they’re ready to get out of town and share the Blanco Bronco sound to the south and north.

“I think we could do a very good job playing out of this town,” Wilson said.

Blanco Bronco has had a really good reception and appreciation from other bands and is definitely close to and admires many other groups, and this sentiment is obvious when they speak to Tacoma’s music scenes.

“I feel like we’re in-between scenes,” Royster said. “You’ve got a lot of younger bands such as Wheelies, Pioneers West, the Hotels, Dignitaries, etc. and then you’ve got another scene with Manhammer, Mico de Noche, Gold Teeth and more, and we’re not sure where we fit. We’re not heavy but not too pop.”

Leddington also affirmed they’ve noticed a trend locally in their years of playing: the number of people who like to listen to live music is dwindling.

“There’s really only a small amount of people that really like live music, and people who are of age and can be there,” he said. “I don’t see lots of people going out to see a band.”

“It could be cyclical,” Royster added, and was reminded of lines going around the Capitol Theater in Olympia when he was growing up and going to shows.

Despite this theory, Blanco Bronco has no lack of fans coming out to their shows or lack of opportunities to play their music. And the reason they do it? Because they love to.

“We do it out of selfish motives,” Royster laughed.

 “The fact that we get to play shows after making music is a bonus,” Leddington added. “Some bands play and think they should automatically get something, but I mean, we’ve been able to play a couple of shows a month, improve and write new songs.”

“I think people like us because of the songs we write,” Wilson affirmed.

The members of the band say their songs aren’t difficult technically, but that they are emotional and honest.

“Most of our stuff is simple. No one gets points for playing with Blanco Bronco,” Leddington guffawed. “We’re not hard pop, not new wave, but we express a lot of emotionality and it transfers well and we’re grateful for it.

“We like the creating part, and we surprise ourselves all the time. I believe in the diversity of sound when playing for an audience.”

This dedication to the audience’s experience, especially in terms of songwriting and performance appears to be unmatched in all of Tacoma. Diehard fans come to multiple shows and recognize that songs they heard a few weeks ago sound different, have new lyrics or new bass lines or guitar work. That’s the band making spontaneous efforts to keep their fans happy, satisfied and appreciative for their abilities.

The band attempted to record a CD a few years back and got 80 percent of the way through but experienced technical difficulties that led to them losing all the work. They are currently working on writing more tracks before attempting the feat again but would love to put together an EP in the near future.

Keeping in the theme with their musicianship and shows, the men of Blanco Bronco formed to play music and have a good time and have people enjoy what they do.

“We’d like to play shows and I like to think it’s fun,” Leddington said. “We’d like to continue to be received well.”

Blanco Bronco play at 9 p.m Aug. 13 at the Stonegate with High Noon Horizon, Midnight Salvage Co. and Kill Devil Rum Club and Aug. 28 at Hell’s Kitchen with Big Wheel Stunt Show, Valis and Bandolier for the Legend of Bigfoot CD release party. For more information, to hear their songs or find another show, visit www.myspace.com/blancobroncoband or find them on Facebook.